2012 - Wk 17: An Attitude of Happiness

4.28.2012

You can also choose to download the pdf of LESSON 17 for easy printing. If you download, please leave a comment here on what you like about this lesson.Note: GAK vs GAB pictures explained here.

Scripture: 2 Nephi 2:25 - Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

Opening Song:Count Your Blessings (LDS Hymn #241)

Lesson:
(show the Rosebush picture and tell the following story...)

One day, two kids were walking down the street together. They passed a garden full of plants and bushes. One child pointed to a bush and said, "It's too bad that rosebushes have thorns." The other child looked at the same bush and said, "It's so wonderful that thorn-bushes have roses!"

- If the two kids were looking at the same bush why do you think they said two different things?

One child was looking at the beauty of the plant and feeling happy. The other looked at the one thing wrong with the plant and felt sad. The difference in the way we look at the same situation is called ATTITUDE.

ATTITUDE is how we choose to look at things. Having a GOOD attitude means you look for blessings and good things in everything you see. Having a BAD attitude means you see the bad and hard parts no matter what happens.

In the Book of Mormon we read about some brothers who have very different attitudes.

Nephi and his brothers had obtained the brass plates from Laban and their family (and Ishmaels' family) traveled into the wilderness as God had commanded them. In the wilderness they ran out of food and became very hungry. Laman and Lemuel began to complain. Another word for complain is MURMUR. In 1Nephi 16:20 it says, "And
it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael did begin
to murmur exceedingly, because of their sufferings and afflictions in
the wilderness...yea, and they were all exceedingly sorrowful, even that they did murmur against the Lord."

Nephi was also very hungry. He had a bow and arrow to shoot food, but his bow was broken. In verses 21 and 22 Nephi says, "Now
it came to pass that I, Nephi, having been afflicted with my brethren
because of the loss of my bow...it began to be exceedingly difficult, yea, insomuch that we could obtain no food. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did speak much unto my brethren, because they had hardened their hearts again, even unto complaining against the Lord their God."

Nephi's older brothers murmured and complained.

- How can sitting around and complaining get food for their family? (It can't)

- What do you think Nephi did?

In verse 23 we see what Nephi chose to do. It says, "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did make
out of wood a bow, and out of a straight stick, an arrow; wherefore, I
did arm myself with a bow and an arrow, with a sling and with stones...".

So Nephi built a new bow. He got up and worked hard and then asked the Lord where he should go and hunt for food. The Lord had given Lehi's family the Liahona, a small ball (like a compass) which would show them the way to go.

(show GAB 68/GAK 302)

In verses 30 through 32 it says "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did go forth up into the top of the mountain, according to the directions which were given upon the ball.And it came to pass that I did slay wild beasts, insomuch that I did obtain food for our families. And it came to pass that I did return to our tents, bearing the beasts which I had slain; and now when they beheld that I had obtained food, how great was their joy! And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord, and did give thanks unto him."

- How did Nephi act differently to a very hard situation than his brothers?
- Which way solved their problem of having no food?
- Why do you think Nephi's family gave thanks to the Lord once their attitudes changed?

Giving thanks and remembering our blessings is an important part of having a good attitude. When life gets hard and our trials seem to build up, it can help us to make a list of all of the good things in our lives and all of the blessings. This helps us to remember how blessed we are and sometimes makes our problems seem smaller.

(show GAK 516/GAB 132)

A Latter-day Prophet, Harold B. Lee said, “Happiness does not depend on what happens outside of you but on what
happens inside of you..."

We can be happy in our daily life if we choose to count our blessings and look at things in a happy way. It doesn't take away all of the trials or sadness in our lives, but it does help us through the hard times.

- How can we be like Nephi when hard things happen in our lives?(we can ask God for help, get to work and give thanks)

Bear your testimony about times in your life when a positive attitude helped you through a hard time. Share a time when you turned to God, as Nephi did, and found answers to those problems.

50
Way Righteous Comments:

girl, i love this!! it is something my cute little peeps are needing right now!! printing it all up today...THANK YOU!! i know i don't comment very often--but i LOVE the things you share and am so happy to have a wonderful resource in your blog! you are doing such a great work...thank you!!! i appreciate you taking the time to share!!!

I just want to say thank you for sharing your stuff. I stumbled upon your blog today while searching for a picture of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon for my primary lesson and I'm so glad!!!! I will definitely be using your lessons for our family home evening. Thank you again!!!

I am soo thankful for your lessons, we have been far more sucessful with your site in doing FHE. It has imporved our family sooo much, thanks for all you do in spreading your talents to build up the kingdom of God!

Thank you again for your dedication to this blog! It has helped me and my family tremedously! I'm especially amazed with how the topics are right on for what my family needs to hear or learn that week! You are amazing, and thank you for sharing your talent with so many others!

THANK YOU Emilie!k, this lesson is perfect because Now I can pull out the count your blessings sign I bought from your shop and put it up in my kids room after this lesson as a reminder! I think I need that Harold B Lee quote in my room as a reminder too, it's soooo true. (where's the source for that quote?)

We loved this FHE lesson tonight! It was perfect for my 8, 6 and 3-year-olds. It kept their attention with the brief rose bush story and the scripture story of Nephi and his broken bow. Thanks for putting these together. We will be using them from now on!

I just got home from work and picking up the kids from school and realized I'm on lesson tonight. I'm really grateful for this lesson. It's so important to see the good in life. Thank you so much for sharing your preparation and passing on a principal/scripture-based FHE. You've really helped this single mommy out!

After this week with my daughter's attitude, I thought I was going to lose my mind. This lesson helped us to discuss it and help her make changes, that hopefully will last for the next few days. Thanks!

This is great. We will be using this in our primary class today. This is going to help us teach how Joseph Smith had a great attitude even when life was so hard. Even with the threat of being tarred and feathered. This will help teach that to the 7 & 8 year olds. Thank you!

I just commented but it didn't show up so if you get two comments you'll know how much I appreciated this lesson! :) Thank you for taking the time to prepare this lesson and for sharing it with me. I'm excited to give this lesson for FHE tonight and I think my boys are going to connect really well to the stories! Good vibes your way!....

I love that his lesson teaches positivity and having a good attitude in a way that my littles can understand. They are very excited for FHE tonight. Thank you for sharing your talents and ideas with the rest of us!

Now Accepting Sponsors

Please Consider...

Welcome!

Hi, I'm Emilie! This site is designed to make YOUR life as a Latter-Day Saint a little bit easier, one blog post at a time. I only share information I would find helpful as a frazzled, tired, mom of 5! Stick around and say hello!

About Our Church

We are members of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, commonly known as Mormons and abbreviated LDS. We are Christians and seek to come together as families to praise God, learn of His teachings, follow Jesus Christ and be good and kind people. To learn more visit the following sites...

Another Great Resource

Be Inspired

Regular participation in family home evening will develop increased personal worth, family unity, love for our fellowmen, and trust in our Father in heaven. It is our promise that great blessings will come to all who conscientiously plan and hold weekly family home evenings.